Robert w



(Model.)

' R. W. PAN.

MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

No. 25H72?, Patented Jan. 3,1882.

ATTORNEYS. j

N. PETERS. Plmmmhngmpxwr lunga n UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT W. PAIN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO MOSES HARRIS, OF SAME PLAGE.

MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 251,727, dated January 3, 1882.

v Application filed Api-i121, 1881. (Model.)

T all whom it may concern:

vBe it known that I, ROBERT W. PAIN, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Mechanical MusicalInstruments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to organs and other wind musical instruments which are mechanically played or controlled by one or more strips 1o or sheets of paper or othersuit-able material perforated to represent the different notes or sounds it is desired to produce, and caused to pass automatically over air-ducts, which, accordingly asthey are opened by the perforations in the paper that has a valvular action relatively to said d ucts, causes the reeds or other sounding devices to be played as required. The invention applies to 'instruments of this description in which an air-compression pump 2o 0r bellows is used as distinguished from an exhaust-bellows; and its object is to provide an improved air-tight removable airreservoir or wind-chest to receive and confine the compressed air directly over that part of the per- 2 5 forated sheet which is directly over and resting upon the action or tube hoard ofthe organ, leaving those parts of the sheet which are winding and unwinding outside of said reservoir, Wind-chest, or pressure-chamber, and re- 3o quiring no opening or lifting of a cover or lid to change the roll or sheet.

The invention consists of a cap or box having glued or otherwise secured alongits opposite side edges strips of organ-leather, rubber,

or other suitable flexible material of sufiicient width to extend inward from each side to the tubes of the action-board, so that the compressed air within the box or reservoir pressing down on the said flexible strips will hold 4o them upon that part of the perforated musicsheet that is passing beneath them in such a manner that no air can escape from said box, reservoir, or airchest excepting through the tubes or passages of the action-board.

Figure l represents a central vertical section on lineyy, Fig. 2,0f a portion of amechanical musical instrumentwith myimprovement attached. Fig. 2 is a cross-section on linemrr, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan of the reverse of my 5o improved air reservoir or chest. Fig. 4 is a reduced end elevation of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

In the accompanyingdrawings, Arepresents my improved air reservoir or chest, consisting of an open-bottomed rectangular box that is designed to extend over the air duets or passages a c of the action or tube board B. Said hoxA has glued or otherwise secured to its lower side edges strips O C, of leather, rubber, 6o or other suitable iiexible material,'of sufficient width to extend inward nearly or quite to the air-ducts c c, as shown. The ends of said box A are designed to be deeper than the .sides thereof, as shown in Fig. 4, so that when it rests upon the action or tube board B there willv be room enough beneath the said sides for the free passage of the perforated music strip or sheet F between them andthe said action or tube board B. One or both of the strips U C 7o are cut away, as shown at I), to permit free passage of air under pressure into the said airchest A through an aperture, c, from a proper source of supply.

To each end of the box A are secured horizontal arms D, whose other ends are made fast in some convenient place to the musical instrument to which the device is attached, Whereby said air-chest A may be lifted and held off from the tube-board B for the insertion of an- 8o other perforated music strip or sheet, F. In these ends of the box A are projecting studs d, that are designed to enter corresponding sockets in the vertical springs or latches E, that are secured on the action or tube board 8 5 B, whereby said air-chest A is held securely down in place upon a perforated music-strip,

F. By disengaging the said springs E from the studs d the air-chest A is liberated and can be raised. I do not confine myself to this 9o special device for holding the air-chest A to the tube-board B,as it is evident that other devices will eect the purpose as well. Inside Vof this air-chest A may be placed a bellowslike, movable, ribbed, or hinged air-tight platform, G, extending the whole length of 4said air-chest A, over the air-duets c a of the action or tube board B, and the pressure of the air therein may be increased, if desirable, by a weight or spring, G', placed on top of said roo platform G. The perforated music-sheet F being placed over and resting upon the action or tube board B, with its ends extended beyond it on either side, the air-chest Aislowered to its seat over said strip or sheet F, and receives and contines the compressed air that is forced into it, and the said compressed air forces the leather strips C G tightly down on the perforated sheet F, where it rests on the back and front of the action-board B, so that no air can escape from said air-chest A, excepting through the pelfora-tions ofthe sheet F, into the airducts a a, and thence into the bellows-valves H, which, consequently expanding', force their push-pins H down upon corresponding valves or pallets, (not shown,) which allow the compressed air from the airsupply bellows (not shown) to vibrate the corresponding pipe or reed.

By the ilse of this improved air-chest only one bellows is necessary to operate the musical instrument and supply all the pipes or reeds thereof; and by the use of this those parts of the sheet that are being' wound and unwound may be outside of the air-chest.

Having.;` thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. In a mechanical musical instrument, an air reservoir or chest provided with interior flexible strips arranged, as described, to bear upon the perforated music-sheet and prevent the escape of air from said chest excepting through the pert'orations of said sheet, substan tially as herein shown and set forth.

2. In a mechanical musical instrument, an

air reservoir or chest provided with interior flexible strips arranged, substantially as described, to prevent the escape of air from its sides, and having its ends deeper than its sides to permit the free passage ot' a music-sheet beneath the said sides and over the action-board of the instrument, substantially as herein shown and described.

3. In a mechanical musical instrument, an air reservoir or chest adapted to be set over the perforated music-sheet upon the aetionboard, and provided with interior flexible airtight strips, and with a weighted or springaetnated bellows-like platform, to increase the pressure of air from said reservoir, substantially as herein shown and described.

4. In amechanical musical instrument, the combination, with movable air reservoir or chest adapted to be set over the perforated music-sheet upon the action-board, of attached arms whereby said chest may be held to and lifted from its position, substantially as herein shown and described.

5. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination, with a movable air reservoir or chest adapted to be set over the perforated music-sheet, oflatches or springs whereby said chest is held to the instrument, substantially as herein shown and described.

ROBERT V. PAIN.

Writnesses: n A

I. I. S'roRER, C. SEDGWICK. 

